Dr. Anand “Sunny” Narayanan is currently a Research Professor at Florida A&M AND  - Florida State University (FAMU-FSU). As a first-generation, immigrant, Indian American from a disadvantaged background, Sunny has held a life-long interest in encouraging diversity through educational outreach and interdisciplinary projects. Sunny holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Medical and Space Physiology, and B.S. degrees from West Virginia University in Mechanical Engineering and Biology.

Now as a Research Professor, he continues his support of NASA’s space program, leading and supporting multiple biomedical studies investigating the physiological effects of deep space radiation, Lunar, and Martian gravity, relevant to our human space exploration goals as we return to the Moon and beyond through the Artemis program.

Check out the Aerospace and Innovation Academy website here: www.aerospacehigh.org

Register for Summer STEM Sessions HERE:

Dr. Jin S. Kang (Suk Jin Kang) is an Associate Professor in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the United States Naval Academy, and serves as the Director of the Naval Academy Small Satellite Program. His main research area is in small satellite technology development and was involved in development of four micro-satellites and numerous CubeSat satellites. He received his B.S. from the University of Michigan, M.S. from Stanford University, and Ph.D. from Korea Aerospace University (KAU) in Aerospace Engineering. After working for General Electric for two years, Kang taught at Korea Air Force Academy, KAU, and Drexel University before joining the Naval Academy faculty

We are so excited to learn more how aerospace and the military connect and as always stay tuned for takeaway after show

Link to AIA summer registration:  https://forms.gle/aJqAKuT3tny5qKDG8

Today we are excited to get an update on the BigRedSat, a CubeSat we first learned about last year.In fact two early podcast episodes (found linked in the show notes) served as an introduction to this team which included middle- university level students as well as an interview with one of their biggest supporters, John McClure. Sadly, John passed this year but his dream for a CubeSat in Nebraska is still in the works

But today we meet with John Helzer:  the special systems team lead for AXP, which is mentoring the Big Red Satellite team's middle & high schoolers. He is currently a junior specializing in Mechanical engineering at the university of Nebraska Lincoln. He is joined by one of their high school students, Robert Schmidt. As always, stay tuned after for the takeaway.

Link to Episode 17 The Legacy of John McClure and BigRedSat

Link to Episode 19 BigRedSat student perspectives with Joel Murch-Shafer and Elsa Meyer

Today, Kevin meets with Nicholas Marshall, a Junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach Fl . There, he is studying Aerospace Engineering with an Aeronautics Track. Nicholas is an active member of Design Build Fly at Embry-Riddle, and he recently participated with our group as part of this yea’s American Insitute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Congressional Visit Day. A proud Eagle Scout, Nicholas hopes to work on military aviation projects upon graduation.

Today’s guest, Craig Glover, was raised in a community much like those in the Palm Beach County community he now serves. His experience growing up in an economically challenged area has helped him recognize his many blessing, and to survive several life challenges. Currently, Craig is excited to serve others as the Executive Director of Northend RISE.

RISE is a resident-driven, family and systems based non-profit movement, dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for the residents of the Northend, Coleman Park and Pleasant City communities. RISE works to improve quality of life by focusing on education, employment, housing and wellness..

https://www.northendrise.org/

AIA Summer Sessions registration link

AIA webpage

AIA FB: @go2space

Today Kevin and I meet with Kadija Rahman and Amina Zulfi, founders of The Little Martians. Kadija  is an Information Technology Engineer and certified STEM Educator in Teaching Primary Science and Amina, an electronics engineer turned educator, is a certified STEM activity designer and STEM curriculum planner.

The Little Martians was founded with the objective of building a strong maker community in India, starting from a young age. The group inspires bright students and mentors  them to find meaningful footing in this challenging world, forming  a path for Indian youngsters to explore and grow.

As always, stay tuned after the episode for our takeaways. 

Little Martians FB: https://www.facebook.com/thelittlemartians/

AIA Summer Sessions registration and information link: https://forms.gle/k44Hv7ZFvpnPa4aC7

AIA website: www.aerospacehigh.org

AIA FB @Go2Space

Mr. Patrick H. Stakem has been fascinated by the space program since the Vanguard launches in 1957. He received a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, and Masters Degrees in Physics and Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University. At Carnegie, he worked with a group of undergraduate students to re-assemble, modify, and operate a surplus missile guidance computer, which was later donated to the Smithsonian. He was brought up in the mainframe era, and was taught to never trust a computer you could lift.

He began his career in Aerospace with Fairchild Industries on the ATS-6 (Applications Technology Satellite-6) program, a communication satellite that developed much of the technology for the TDRSS (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System). He followed the ATS-6 Program through its operational phase, and worked on other projects at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center including the Hubble Space Telescope, the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM), some of the Landsat missions, and Shuttle. He was posted to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for Mars-Jupiter-Saturn (MJS-77), which later became the Voyager mission, and which is still operating and returning data from outside the solar system at this writing. He initiated and lead the international Flight Linux Project for NASA's Earth Sciences Technology Office. He is the recipient of the Shuttle Program Manager's Commendation Award, and has completed 42 NASA Certification courses. He has two NASA Group Achievement Awards, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Program Award.

Now he supports International collaborative open-source projects, and STEM Programs.

Today Kevin and I meet with Amy Trujillo, a professional educator and author with 20 years experience working with students from elementary school through adults. Currently she is the Instructional Coach at Orlando Science Schools where she oversees STEM, as well as oversees the gifted plans for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Ms. Trujillo is also n innovator and advocate for the needs of diverse learners.  She believes in integrating science, technology, engineering, and math into all lessons so students grasp the concepts as well as gain the skills they need for the future workforce.

Over the course of her career, Amy has received numerous awards and earned several certifications. Among these are the Global Math Ambassador, National Geographic Certified Educator, LEGO Education Master Educator, Nearpod Certified Educator, Kahoot Gold Coach, and a Google Certified Educator. Currently Amy is the president of the Florida Association for the Gifted, the past president of the Florida Association of Science Teachers, and is the new NSTA Area Five Director.

As always, stay tuned after the interview for our takeaways. 

FLAG Website: https://www.floridagifted.org/

"Let’s Go to Space: BLUESKY Learning" is part of a larger educational initiative called the Aerospace and Innovation Academy, which seeks to provide unique and distinctive stem opportunities for passionate middle and high schoolers.  While we often highlight careers in aerospace, today’s podcast is the third in a series where we have been hearing from  parents of students who have incredible resume builders to hear how they believe the program has impacted their child.

Today for episode 57 we meet with Mr. Bill Mayville and Mr. Paul Kiesling.

Paul Kiesling is the father of two active Wolf Pack Students, Paul Jr who is currently a 9th grader at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Dylan Kiesling, a 6th grader at the Weiss ​School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Paul is a Global Co-Head of Implementation and Operational Due Diligence at a International Asset Management Company and has a career that has taken him all over the world. Paul feels that the Wolfpack provides innovative global opportunities for its students and fosters a framework for success that the students can apply in all facets of life.

Bill Mayville is a successful entrepreneur, civic leader and 10 year military veteran rising to rank of Captain and earning awards and recognition. Today, Bill is president of Workaway International. This company recruits and provides staff for residential country clubs, ensuring that the clubs have qualified, trained, drug-free domestic and international workers to support their operations.  He successfully led and sold numerous companies prior his CEO position at Workaway international.  He is a graduate of Furman University and earned an MBA from Florida International University.

Let’s Go to Space BLUESKY Learning is part of a larger educational initiative called the Aerospace and Innovation Academy, which seeks to provide unique and distinctive stem opportunities for passionate middle and high schoolers.

While we often highlight careers in aerospace, today’s podcast is the third in a series where we have been hearing from  parents of students who have incredible resume builders to hear how they believe the program has impacted their child. This is our second episode in the series. 

Dr. Ruhi Ahmed currently serves as Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs at two companies: FLAG Therapeutics Inc.and at Asceneuron She has nearly 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology. Dr. Ahmed earned her B.S. in Biology and M.A. in Biochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin, and her M.S. in Regulatory Sciences and Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Southern California.. Today, she is the proud mom of seventh grader Argyrios Vaitsos who spoke recently at the Hawaiian International Conference of Education

Gary Vescio  is Managing Director of SOUND Wealth Management Group which is a leading financial management and advisory group affiliated with Raymond James.  He is also a former executive of a Fortune 200 technology firm and holds an MBA from the University of Miami. He and his wife Jackie are the parents of 3 boys - the oldest, Michael, who is currently enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and was an inaugural member of our Cube-Sat program; and twins Elliott and Tyler who are members of the team today.

SHOW NOTE: Mr. Vescio appears about halfway through due to a log-in issue.